DUTCH Test: A Comprehensive Look at Hormone Health

Gain Deeper Insights Into Your Hormonal Balance

Hormones play a critical role in energy, mood, metabolism, and overall well-being. The DUTCH Test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) offers an in-depth analysis of key hormones and their metabolites, providing a clear picture of how your body is processing and balancing hormones.

📌 This test is available to current patients. If you are not a patient, an initial consultation is required before proceeding.

Why Consider the DUTCH Test?

✔️ Comprehensive Hormone Profiling – Assesses sex hormones, adrenal function, cortisol patterns, and more.
✔️ Personalized Health Insights – Provides a detailed overview of hormone metabolism and balance.
✔️ Convenient Sample Collection – Uses dried urine samples collected at home.
✔️ Essential for Women’s Health – Can help evaluate hormone-related concerns, including menstrual cycle irregularities, perimenopause, menopause, and fertility health.
✔️ Follow-Up Consultation Required – Your results will be reviewed with your practitioner to discuss next steps.

📌 If you are not a current patient, schedule an initial consultation before requesting this test.

Why Women Should Consider the DUTCH Test

Hormones play a vital role in a woman’s overall health, influencing energy, mood, metabolism, and reproductive function. When hormones are out of balance, women may experience:

✅ Irregular menstrual cycles (heavy, missing, or painful periods)
✅ PMS symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, irritability)
✅ Perimenopause & menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog)
✅ Unexplained weight changes
✅ Fatigue & low energy levels
✅ Hair thinning or loss
✅ Sleep disturbances or insomnia
✅ Anxiety, depression, or mood swings
✅ Low libido & vaginal dryness

If you're struggling with any of these concerns, the DUTCH Test can help identify imbalances in key hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol—providing a clear roadmap to restoring balance.

What Does the DUTCH Test Measure?

The DUTCH Test provides an in-depth analysis of:

1. Estrogen & Progesterone (Reproductive Health)

• Identifies estrogen dominance or low estrogen linked to PMS, PCOS, fertility issues, and menopause symptoms.

• Measures progesterone levels, essential for a healthy menstrual cycle and pregnancy support.

• Evaluates estrogen detox pathways, helping determine if the body is properly clearing estrogen (important for breast health).

2. Cortisol & Stress Response (Adrenal Function)

• Assesses cortisol rhythms throughout the day to identify adrenal fatigue, burnout, or chronic stress issues.

• Helps determine why energy levels fluctuate and whether sleep disturbances are linked to cortisol imbalances.

3. Testosterone & Androgens (Energy & Libido)

• Measures testosterone and DHEA, hormones essential for muscle tone, motivation, and sex drive.

• Helps uncover high androgens, which may contribute to PCOS, acne, and unwanted hair growth.

4. Melatonin (Sleep & Recovery)

• Evaluates melatonin production, essential for sleep quality and circadian rhythm regulation.

• Helps understand why falling or staying asleep may be difficult.

5. Hormone Metabolism (Detoxification & Liver Health)

• Identifies how the body processes hormones, ensuring they are safely eliminated rather than reabsorbed or accumulating.

• Useful in breast cancer risk assessment, as poor estrogen detox pathways may contribute to estrogen-related conditions.

📌 By measuring these key markers, the DUTCH Test offers a complete picture of hormonal health, unlike traditional blood tests that only provide a single-time snapshot.

How Does the DUTCH Test Work?

1️⃣ At-Home Collection: The test uses dried urine samples, collected over a 24-hour period.
2️⃣ Easy Submission: Samples are dried, stored, and mailed to a certified lab for analysis.
3️⃣ Comprehensive Report: Results provide detailed insights into hormone balance and metabolism.
4️⃣ Personalized Review: Your healthcare provider can interpret your results and create a customized wellness plan.

📌 Unlike standard blood tests, the DUTCH Test captures hormone fluctuations throughout the day, giving a more accurate picture of female hormone balance.

Who Can Benefit from the DUTCH Test?

The DUTCH Test is ideal for women at all stages of life, including:

👩‍⚕️ Women experiencing menstrual irregularities or PMS
👩‍👩‍👦 Those trying to conceive or dealing with infertility concerns
💃 Perimenopausal & menopausal women managing symptoms
🏋️ Women with unexplained weight gain or fatigue
🌿 Anyone seeking a holistic approach to hormone health

📌 If traditional hormone testing has left you without answers, the DUTCH Test may provide the deeper insights you need!

DUTCH Test vs. Blood & Saliva Hormone Testing

Understanding Adrenal Fatigue and Cortisol Testing with the DUTCH Test

If you're waking up tired, crashing in the afternoon, or feeling "wired but tired" at night, it might not just be stress—your adrenal rhythm could be off. The DUTCH Test provides a window into how your body is coping and where support is needed.

🧠 What Is Adrenal Fatigue (HPA Axis Dysfunction)?

Though often referred to as "adrenal fatigue," the issue lies more with the HPA axis—the communication loop between your brain and adrenal glands. Under prolonged stress, this system can become dysregulated, leading to hormonal imbalances and energy crashes.

Rather than a sudden breakdown, adrenal dysfunction tends to develop in stages.

🌡️ The Four Stages of Adrenal Fatigue

🟢 Stage 1: Alarm Phase – “Running on Adrenaline”

What’s happening:
The body responds to acute stress with high cortisol output to keep up with demands.

You might feel:

• Alert but anxious

• Difficulty falling asleep

• Reliant on coffee or sugar

• Wired but not necessarily tired

DUTCH Pattern:
Elevated cortisol all day.

🟡 Stage 2: Resistance Phase – “Surviving, Not Thriving”

What’s happening:
The stress continues. Cortisol output becomes erratic—still elevated at times, but not sustained.

You might feel:

• Morning energy but afternoon crashes

• Poor stress tolerance

• PMS or irregular cycles

• Brain fog and irritability

DUTCH Pattern:
Spikes and drops in cortisol. Cortisol curve may fall too early or reverse.

🟠 Stage 3: Exhaustion Phase – “Tired All the Time”

What’s happening:
Cortisol levels drop and remain low. The brain signals less stress hormone production to protect the body.

You might feel:

• Deep fatigue even after rest

• Low mood or flat affect

• Frequent colds or slow recovery

• Little to no energy for exercise

DUTCH Pattern:
Low free cortisol across the board; may also show sluggish cortisol metabolism.

🔴 Stage 4: Burnout Phase – “System on Pause”

What’s happening:
Severe HPA downregulation. Cortisol, DHEA, and sex hormones are often depleted. This stage requires deep recovery.

You might feel:

• Extreme fatigue or can't get out of bed

• Apathy or emotional numbness

• Lightheaded when standing

• Persistent low mood

DUTCH Pattern:
Very low cortisol, DHEA, and possibly estrogen/testosterone. A flatlined rhythm.

🧪 How the DUTCH Test Helps

The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) test tracks:

• Free cortisol throughout the day

• Cortisone (inactive form)

• Cortisol metabolites

• DHEA and sex hormones

• A full picture of your diurnal rhythm

This allows you to see where you are on the adrenal stress spectrum—and how your body is processing and clearing cortisol.

📉 What a Healthy Cortisol Curve Looks Like

A healthy rhythm rises sharply in the morning, slowly declines through the day, and drops to its lowest point at night.

🗓️ What Happens After Testing?

Once your DUTCH results are in, you’ll meet for a follow-up consultation to go over your cortisol rhythm, hormone balance, and any signs of dysregulation. From there, a plan is built to support recovery—this may include:

• Nutrient repletion

• Herbal adaptogens

• Nervous system regulation

• Sleep and circadian rhythm optimization

• Stress management techniques

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re feeling drained, anxious, or stuck in a cycle of burnout, the DUTCH Test may offer the clarity you’ve been searching for.

📌 The DUTCH Test provides more comprehensive insights than blood and saliva testing, making it a preferred choice for women’s hormone health.

How to Get Started:

💡 Step 1: Become a Patient (If You Aren’t Already)

• If you are not a current patient, schedule an initial consultation before proceeding.

📦 Step 2: Sample Collection

• A simple at-home collection kit allows for dried urine samples to be collected over the course of a day.

• The sample is then sent to a certified laboratory for analysis.

📊 Step 3: Follow-Up Consultation to Review Your Results

• A follow-up consultation is required to discuss findings and their impact on your hormonal health.

• Your practitioner will provide personalized recommendations based on your test results.

📌 This test is only available to current patients. If you are not a patient, an initial consultation is required before proceeding.

Ready to take control of your hormonal health? The DUTCH Test can help identify imbalances and guide a plan toward balance and vitality.

Book your initial consultation with one of our Naturopathic Doctors to start your hormone healing journey.

💡 Don't let hormonal imbalances control your life—discover what's happening inside your body today!